Day 8

Taking Inventory (Matthew 5:29-30)

Congratulations Family! You’ve completed ONE ENTIRE WEEK of the fast! That means we’re 33% complete! One third is behind us! GOOD JOB!

If you’re anything like me, on the one hand, you’re enjoying the benefits of this focused time of prayer and fasting. Perhaps your walk with Christ has become sweeter, amen? You’re closer to your Savior than you were just one week before. And it’s sweet. There’s a song on your heart. Jesus is on your mind. There are those things that don’t get to ya like they once could. There are some things that used to be so very important only days before but now your perspective of what’s truly important has become more clear. If you’ve been fasting from food, or certain kinds of foods, you may be enjoying the benefits of that. Less sugar. Less carbs. Less quantity. And the physical wins are being coupled with the spiritual ones. Yeah—you’re getting better.

But on the other hand, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Especially on a MONDAY! There’s a commitment you made to your fast and you ‘miss it.’ I’ll let you in. I’ve fasted from social media. And my kids keep doing cute things that make me wanna grab my phone and post and then it hits me — Wait! You’re fasting! And I’ll be honest there are those times where I kind of miss some stuff.

But it’s at these crucial moments in a time of prayer and fasting where the believer must take inventory. Count the benefits on the one side versus the things you miss on the other. And now honestly ask yourself—Am I better today or no? I’m certain your answer is that even though you miss some things, you’re probably doing a bit better without them.

Here’s where I’m going. We’ve got two more weeks to go, and on some level, Jesus may be saying to us, “It’s really nice for you and I when you’re more focused on me. Maybe you ought to consider renegotiating your rhythm with some of those thins you’ve fasted from on the other side of this. In Matthew 5 Jesus said that if there’s an element of your life that causes you to sin or, in our case, veer away from Him, we ought to do away with it in our lives. It’s better for us to lose “that thing” than miss out on what He is doing in our lives. That’s where I’m at today.

On a Saturday morning last weekend I stole away from the family before the day’s chores of Soccer games and what not began to spend some precious moments with the savior. I read through Psalm 119. Sat in quietness with the Word. And just enjoyed being with my God. This doesn’t happen on too many Saturdays for me. And that’s the fruit of fasting.

It’s Monday. Let’s go! Let’s march on. Pray. Trust. Read God’s Word. Love others. You’ve got this. Because TODAY my friend—GOD HAS YOU!

Love you so much. Two more weeks to go. Press on.

Ricky